Niigata Prefecture (Sado)
I visited Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture.
I joined Sado Kisen’s “Sado Day Trip Highlights Tour.”
The tour departs from Niigata Port in the morning, takes you around Sado Island’s main attractions in a single day, and returns to Niigata Port in the evening.
Since it is not possible to visit all of Sado’s attractions in one day, there are three different courses, each visiting different places.
The course I chose included some of Sado’s most famous attractions, such as Toki Forest Park and Sado Kinzan Gold Mine. I think it is an excellent choice for first-time visitors to Sado.
Some shops and museums on Sado Island do not accept credit cards, so it is a good idea to carry some cash when visiting the island.
＜Niigata Port → Ryotsu Port＞
A Jetfoil connects Niigata Port and Ryotsu Port on Sado Island.
It takes about half as long as the car ferry, reducing the journey from approximately 150 minutes to around 70 minutes.
This Jetfoil operated by Sado Kisen was developed and manufactured by Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer. The word “BOEING” is still displayed on the hull.
“Sadokky,” a character inspired by the toki (Japanese crested ibis), welcomes visitors at Ryotsu Port.
＜Toki Forest Park＞
A facility dedicated to the conservation and breeding of the toki, where visitors can also learn about its ecology and efforts to return it to the wild.
The Japanese population of the toki became extinct in 2003.
However, successful artificial breeding was achieved using toki presented by China in 1999. In 2008, the first toki were released into the wild on Sado Island.
Today, wild breeding has become established, with more than 400 toki living in the wild, mainly on Sado Island. Releases are also being carried out on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
＜Sado Gold and Silver Mine Sites＞
Doyu no Warito
The mountain has a distinctive appearance, as if it had been split in two. This unusual landscape was formed through many years of gold and silver mining.
At the lower part of Doyu no Warito, a large excavation remains from mining carried out using dynamite from the Meiji period onward.
Sado Kinzan – Doyu Tunnel Entrance
Reproduction of mining operations inside the mine
